A Lawrence-centered national historic area should focus on the city’s “Bleeding Kansas” legacy, officials say  and on the evolution of Haskell Indian Nations University.

“The story of Native people … has never been fully told to or understood by the general public,” the National Heritage Area Committee said in its final 134-page report, which was obtained Friday by the Journal-World.

“They don’t realize that the Native story is one of struggle, adaptation and survival,” the committee said. “It is a story that needs to be told.”

The 17-member committee, led by Deanell Tacha of Lawrence, chief judge of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, started work in January to examine the feasibility of creating a federally designated national heritage area in and around Lawrence.

“Heritage areas receive national recognition, support and assistance from the National Park Service, and matching federal funding of up to $1 million a year for 10 years,” the report said.

Officials originally discussed attracting federal funds and increasing tourism by emphasizing Lawrence’s role in the 1850s battle over whether Kansas would be a “free” or “slave” state  an often-bloody fight that helped spark the Civil War.

As the committee worked, though, members began to recognize similar themes in Haskell’s history. The university started as a boarding school to assimilate students into the predominant white culture, and only gradually shifted focus to preserving and enhancing American Indian culture.

“The presence of Haskell Indian Nations University … has continued to present the community with questions of sovereignty and freedom that were at the root of Civil War issues,” the committee said.

Marvin Buzzard, Haskell’s vice president in charge of university services, said the school welcomed the chance to be part of the heritage area effort.

“Certainly we believe Haskell’s history is tied to Lawrence’s history  it’s been our sole home,” he said. “We’d be happy to be included.”

There’s a lot of work to be done first. The committee made several recommendations:

 Hiring a consultant to do a more in-depth feasibility study to help the city and county figure out how to build the resources to sustain and promote the heritage area. The committee estimated the move would cost $115,000 a year.

 Seek state designation of a State Heritage Area for the Lawrence area.

 Make efforts to preserve publicly owned “historic assets” such as the city-owned Carnegie Library, which has been without a tenant since the Lawrence Arts Center moved out earlier this year.

 Actively seek federal and state support.

Tacha said in a letter she hoped to formally present the recommendations to the Lawrence and Douglas County commissions on Sept. 10, in conjunction with a visit from a National Park Service official.